Mehul Kumar, a tenth standard student from Sanjay Public School, Jaipur is one of the top ten national winners for the Destination NASA Knowledge Test organized by 24X7guru.com.

24X7guru.com is an online guide for the students from class 3 to class 10 on subjects connected with mathematics and science. 24X7guru.com had recently organized a national level talent hunt programme wherein the top 10 winners from India will be sent to NASA.

Dr. A.R.K. Pillai and Dr. Narayan B. Iyer from Indian Development Foundation reached Sanjay Public School in Lal Kothi Scheme, Jaipur this morning to congratulate Mehul Kumar for his wonderful achievement. IDF team had the good opportunity of interviewing Mehul on his mission NASA and wished him good luck in his ensuing exams and also the project `destination NASA’.

The genius boy of 15 with a bent on scientific excellence, Mehul Kumar has the ambition to become a Space Scientist. No sooner I got the information about Destination NASA contest, I immediately registered my name for appearing in the online tests. There were three rounds and I found it interesting answering all the questions with ease, said Mehul with a smile.

Though my parents are not from science background, they encouraged me to pursue my ambition, said Mehul. Mehul Kumar is the second son of Mr.Suryakant Sharma and Mrs. Gayatri Sharma who expressed their happiness on their son winning the recent Destination NASA talent contest. The proud parents are also happy about their eldest son, Yash Kumar who is keen on science and astronomy.

Mehul’s role models are Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawkings, When asked whom he would like to meet at NASA, Mehul said in a polite tone Sunita Williams and Zimmerman who are very dear to him. Of course, meeting Dr.Abdul Kalam, the former President of India would be my greatest dream.

Winner of several talent and knowledge contests, Mehul Kumar is also the winner of the title Balshri in Creative Science contest, which he will be receiving from the President of India shortly.

Poetry, watching movies and playing chess are some of my hobbies. Yes, playing computer games also helps me to think on scientific ways, added Mehul in a jovial mood.

When pressed for a message for his peers, Mehul said irrespective of the fields one chooses, one must do full justice to reach the pinnacle. There is nothing called impossible, if once can think high, reaching that destination becomes easier, he added.

Mrs. Sudha Bhatia, Principal of the School was all praise for Mehul and said he has made all of us proud. The management of the school joins me in wishing Mehul Kumar best of luck in his future programmes, she added.

Recollecting the incident of social work done for Indian Leprosy Foundation for a couple of times, Mehul said I vividly remember of having the Foundation team coming to our school in connection with leprosy awareness programme. I could join the schoolteam in mobilizing resource for the poor leprosy patients. I still have the memento and the certificate which I received from Indian Leprosy Foundation, asserted Mehul. Every student should take part in the social responsibility programmes carried out by NGOs for the benefit of the underprivileged people in the society, he stressed.

Dr.A.R.K. Pillai and Dr. Narayan B. Iyer invited Mehul Kumar to become the `IDF Student Social Ambassador’ . I am honoured and feel elated to get this status today, said Mehul with a smile.

URL: http://indiandevelopmentfoundation.blogspot.com/2008/02/mehul-makes-to-nasa.html